Madison County AlArchives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat August 30, 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com January 2, 2007, 11:49 am Microfilm At Huntsville Library August 30, 1882 PERSONAL MENTION Mrs. Kate D. Thompson is visiting Birmingham. Our venerable friend, Dr. John C. Spotswood has been quite sick for a week or two. We are glad to hear he is better. Mrs. George Steele has been ill at Mr. John Newman’s place in Marshall County, but, we are glad to learn, is convalescent. Dr. Dement, returning from a visit to Mrs. Geo. Steel, severely sprained one of his ankles. We are pleased however, to see him able to appear on our streets, though on a crutch. Mr. Charles Coxe, of Louisville, Ky., and Mr. Allan P. Joyner, of Stevenson are in the city. Gen. Sam Moore has returned from Blount Springs. Margrane Cone, Esq., is visiting his parents. DIED: PICKETT.-At Madison Co., Ala., Steptoe Pickett, aged about 66 years. Mr. Pickett was an outspoken, honest, affable gentleman, and one of the best citizens of Madison county. We deeply regret his death and heartily sympathize with his family. LOCAL ITEMS Fragrant Fracas. ----------------------- Athens Courier In Judge Malone’s court, Monday, a very amusing case was heard. In the case of the State vs. Harry Easter, col., the proof showed that at a colored sacramental meeting over Elk, the pastor refused to et any member of the congregation take the sacraments unless he would put ten cents in the plate. At the collection, Harry Easter desired to put in five cents; he gave the Deacon a dollar and was given with the change therefore a nickel with a hole in it, which he put in the plat. The pastor desired all those who had contributed to rise to their feet, and Harry arose with the rest; whereupon the pastor remarked that Easter was up and contributed two and a half cents. A general hubbub ensued, during which “fragrance,” as one of the witnesses called the fracas, an old man who had brought the sacrament, took it off the table, put it in a sack, and, with it and his old woman, bolted the meeting. We regret to hear there is an impression that the Commissioners Court of Madison County objected to Dr. A. B. Shelby’s charges a Jail Physician, on the ground that hey were higher than the schedule of charges, agreed upon by the physicians of Madison County, in their ordinary practice, and that, therefore, the Commissioners’ Court, virtually, charged Dr. Shelby with want of integrity, involving both his personal and professional character. We did not so understand the Commissioners’ Court, and, we are assured, they meant no such thing, but, simply that his charges were higher than those of his predecessor, Dr. C. A. Robinson, for the same length of profession service, and higher than the Court thought they were authorized to pay for such services, when they could be obtained at les cost to the taxpayers of the County. We have no reason to doubt Dr. Shelby’s integrity, personal or professional, but, on the contrary, have great confidence in both. Our object, in publishing the correspondence between Dr. Shelby and the Commissioner’s Court, was simply, to place the facts herein before the public. We learn that a virealant case of small pox has appeared on Mr. Pruitt’s place near Meridianville. The wife of Mr. John Graham, Jr., is the patient. Miss Laura Bassett will open a private school at her residence on Franklin street, August 30, 1881 [sic]. Instruction in drawing and painting free. The case of Thos. G. Hewlett charged with murder in the 2d degree for killing Sandy Bynum, a colored, was taken up on Tuesday a. m., August 29, in the Circuit Court, Judge Speake presiding. Solicitor H. C. Jones, Assistant Solicitor Nich. Davis, and Dan. Coleman, Esq., represent the State, and Walker, Humes & Gordon, the defendant. A jury was impaneled with little difficulty from the juries No. 1 and 2, and a few talesmen, both sides, however, having exhausted their peremptory challenges. The witnesses number, we believe, 50 or 60, and the examination of State’s witnesses is still progressing. United States vs. Dick Little ---------------------------------- To-day, at 12m., Dick Little or Liddel was brought before U. S. Commissioner Jas. H. Bone, in the U. S. Court room, for examination of the charge of robbing, U. S. Paymaster Smith of $5,000, near Muscle Shoals, Ala. District Att’y W. H. Smith & L. W. Day prosecute and Walker & Shelby defend. A large crowd was present. The case was postponed till to-morrow. The following U.S. witnesses are here: Paymaster Smith, Mrs. Jesse James, of Kansas City, G. B. Hite and G. T. Hite, of Adairsville, Ky., R. M. Hooke a contractor at the Shoals, and Thos. H. Peden, the saloon-keeper, at whose saloon the robbers were stopping, when Paymaster Smith passed with the money. ALABAMA ITEMS Under the genial influences of a Colorado Summer, Col. Lowe is said to be recovering his health and strength. This carries joy to the hearts of many North Alabama patriots whose sun and moon revolve around a spindle of which Col. Lowe is the lynch pin.—Montgomery Advertiser. The Legislature ------------------- The following is a list of Senators and Representatives, as far as ascertained, elected to the next session of the General Assembly. Senate 1st District, Lauderdale and Limestone—T. N. MCCLELLAN.* 2d District, Colbert and Lawrence—JAMES JACKSON. 3d District, Blount, Morgan, Cullman and Winston—J. C. ORR.* 4th District, Madison—D. D. SHELBY. 5th District, Cherokee, Etowah and St. Clair—S. K. MCSPADDEN. 7th District, Calhoun and Cleburne—L. W. Grant.* 8th District, Talladega and Clay—Merritt Street. 9th District, Randolph and Chambers—R. S. Pate.* 10th District, Macon and Tallapoosa—A. L. Brooks. 11th District, Tuscaloosa and Bibb—A. C. Hargrove.* 12th District, Franklin, Marion, Fayette and Lamar—A. L. Moorman. 13th District, Shelby, Jefferson and Walker—J. B. Lucki_.* 14th District, Greene and Pickens—J. A. Billups. 15th District, Coosa, Chilton and Elmore—W. P. Oden.* 16th District, Lowndes and Autauga—W. Brewer. 17th District, Butler and Conecuh—G. R. Farnham.* 18th District, Perry—A. C. Davidson. 19th District, Clarke, Choctaw and Washington—Henry Ware.* 20th District, Marengo—J. F. Griffin. 21st District, Monroe, Escambia and Baldwin—W. Y. Titcomb.* 22d District, Wilcox—R. C. Jones. 23d District, Henry, Coffee, Dale and Geneva—F. M. Cushing.* 24th District, Barbour—A. H. Thomas. 25th District, Crenshaw, Pike and Covington—L. H. Bowles.* 26th District, Bullock—J. T. Norman. 27th District, Lee—G. P. Harrison.* 28th District, Montgomery—D. S. Troy. 29th District, Russell—J. H. Mitchell.* 30th District, Dallas—A. V. Gardner. 31st District, Sumter—A. G. Smith.* 32d District, Hale—Thomas Seay. 33d District, Mobile—Leslie Brooks.* Those marked with a * hold over from last year. Democrats in Roman; others in small caps. [Transcription is ALL CAPS.] House of Representatives ------------------------------------- Autauga—Mac. A. Smith. Baldwin—J. H. TATUM. Barbour—C. C. Shorter, H. Hawkins, James Lang. Bibb—E. H. Moren. Blount—T. S. C. Wharton. Bullock—R. H. Powell, J. F. Armstrong. Butler—D. G. Dunklin. Calhoun—J. D. Hammond. Chambers—J. J. Robinson, G. W. Shealy. Cherokee—Jos. N. Swan. Chilton—J. S. Edwards. Choctaw—E. McCall. Clarke—Isaac Grant. Clay—J. D. Carmichael. Cleburne—W. J. Alexander. Coffee— Colbert—N. T. UNDERWOOD. Conecuh—J. D. Burnett. Coosa—J. H. PORTER. Covington—G. W. Reck. Crenshaw—G. W. THAGARD. Cullman—H. L. WAYLINGTON. Dale—J. W. Dowling. Dallas—S. W. John, F. H. Smith, C. P. Whitt, R. D. Berry. DeKalb—Clayton. Elmore—GOREE. Escambia—J. C. Evans. Etowah—ISAAC MORANOE. Fayette—J. B. Sanford. Franklin—A. J. Underwood. Greene—W. J. CRAWFORD, A. W. S. Anderson. Geneva— Hale—A. M. Avery, George N. Harris. Henry—R. J. Reynolds. Jackson—S. H. GLOVER, C. W. HUNT. Jefferson—J. D. Hawkins, C. W. McAdory. Lamar— Lauderdale—R. T. Simpson, J. C. Kendrick. Lawrence—JAMES H. BRANCH, J. M. CLARK. Limestone—C. W. RAISLER, PORTER BIBB. Lee—W. J. Samford, E. H. Baker. Lowndes—R. W. Russell, J. Scarbrough. Macon—W. F. Foster. Madison—COCHRAN, HADEN, and WILLIAMS, colored. Marengo—Mims Walker, F. H. Kimbrough. Marion— Marshall—G. May. Mobile—Peter Hamilton, C. C. Langdon, Leroy Brewer, S. C. Muldon. Monroe—W. W. McMillan. Morgan—J. Shackelford. Montgomery—E. Graham, J. W. Orme, H. McIntyre, F. A. Hall. Perry—C. D. Hogue, J. A. Fuller. Pickens—D. C. Hodo, E. D. Willet, Jr. Pike—F. J. Cowart, N. W. Griffin. Randolph—F. P. Sandle. Russell—A. C. Ferrell, W. H. Broyles. Shelby—Hawkins. St. Clair—Aderholt. Sumter—W. B. Gere, W. C. Holt. Talladega—Cecil Browne, O. M. Reynolds. Tallapoosa—G. W. Vines, J. T. Jones. Tuscaloosa—H. H. Brown, S. A. M. Wood. Walker—B. F. TINGLE. Washington— Wilcox—J. T. Beck, J. W. Purifoy. Winston— Democrats in Roman; others in SMALL CAPS. [Transciption is ALL CAPS.] U.S. NEWS Knoxville Tragedy KNOXVILLE, TENN., Aug. 26.-A fatal shooting affray occurred here to-day, in which Moses Lusby was shot through the breast and instantly killed, and his son, Don Lusby, through the body, the wound being fatal.—The shooting was done between the Lusbys on one side, and General Joseph A. Mabry and his son, Joseph A. Mabry, jr., on the other. Don Lusby is the man who murdered William C. Mabry, a son of General Mabry, last Christmas eve. On his trial of murder the jury disagreed, and Don Lusby was released on bail.—This morning, Don Lusby abused General Mabry on the street and threatened to kill him. Don was arrested by the chief marshal, but resisted arrest. His father attempted to rescue him. He was taken to the city jail before the recorder, where the chief marshal and a policeman attempted to disarm him. The Mabrys were present as witnesses, and engaged in the scuffle, in which the Lusby’s were shot. When killed, Moses Lusby had one pistol in his hand, and, one in his pocket. Don Lusby, also, had two pistols. An examination, at the coroner’s request, failed to develop who did the shooting, but the Mabrys are strongly suspected. Gen. Mabry and his son were arrested and gave bond in the sum of $2,500 each. The Horrible Plot in Alabama ---------------------------- Chattanooga Times The alleged preparations of the negroes in Choctaw County, Ala., to massacre the entire white population, accounts of which have reached us by telegraph, have very naturally caused great excitement, not only in that immediate section, but throughout the State. It is true, there may be no other confirmatory proof of the plot than appears in written documents, found where they had been accidentally dropped, bearing evidence of a conspiracy for an indiscriminate massacre of the white people, but there is a circumstance not mentioned in dispatches which would seem to strengthen the apprehensions of the citizens of that part of the State. Some eight or nine years ago, old Jack Turner, whose name is mentioned as the head devil of the whole affair, actually attempted to put in execution a similar plot. He had a body of negroes nearly to the court-house square, in the town of Butler, while court was in session, and there were large numbers of persons in attendance, but instead of dashing in and striking the people with consternation, as he had planned, he halted his men in the bushes, where they were discovered, and, when the whites went out with guns and pistols to meet them, they fled like frightened sheep. They were pursued to Bigby river, which they crossed in great confusion, and it was thought they were too badly frightened ever to engage in another uprising. We are glad to observe that, amid all the excitement occasioned by this threatened insurrection, the good people of Choctaw county are acting with due discretion. Those of the negroes they captured (except Jack Turner who was hanged) are confined in jail, and we hope the law will be allowed, to take its course with them. Gen. Jack Turner ------------------------- More About the Choctaw Insurrection Special to the Times-Democrat. MERIDIAN, Aug. 21.—One of the most horrible and cruel conspiracies ever entered into by the negroes of this section, came to light in Choctaw county, Ala., just across our State line, near Butler, the county seat, on Wednesday, of last week. It seems that some white men were riding along the road leading to Allen’s mill near DeSotoville, and found some papers, which, upon examination, proved to be the minutes of a negro organization, formed for BRUTAL DEEDS OF BLOOD Information was gleaned from the minutes found that is was the intention of the negroes to make a general assault upon the whites between the 15th and 17th of September, and that the organization was 400 strong and four years old, having been called into existence in 1878. Every member had subscribed to the most solemn oath, and binding obligation to secrecy, and the conspirators were pledged to kill every white man, woman and child in the county, from the cradle to the grave. A notorious black negro by the name of Jack Turner who, in his communications to the organization, signed himself “Gen. Jack Turner,” was the evil spirit of whom the conspiracy was, and who, it has wicked scheme proved successful, was to be made the ruler of this county with a big salary. There were also communications from “Capt. Jesse Wilson” and Capt. Peter Hill” among the papers. THE PLAN WAS, When the time came for action to divide their organization into three companies, to be commanded by “Gen. Jack Turner,” “Capt. Jesse Wilson” and “Capt. Peter Hill,” who were to take up positions in the Butler, Mt. Sterling and DeSotoville neighborhoods, and attack the whole county simultaneously, and slaughter every man, woman and child that was of white skin. This news was circulated rapidly over the country among the white people, who organized and armed themselves and went in search of the black fiends who were planning to slaughter them. They soon came upon Gen. Jack Turner,” “Capt. Jesse Wilson,” “Capt. Peter Hill,” secretary Fred Bonner, Limon, a preacher, and two other leaders, names unknown, and took them in custody to Butler, the county seat where they were lodged in jail. Saturday morning, Secretary Bonner was taken from jail by the whites and interrogated, and no withstanding the proof was conclusive against him, he denied all knowledge of the conspiracy and affirmed with Christian like sincerity his innocence. He was TIED UP BY THE TOES, while Rev. Limon was brought out to tell what he knew. He knew any-nothing at first, but under there freshing and persuasive influence of the lash, applied vigorously to his bare back, he remembered and told a great many things. When the minutes were read to him, he admitted that he had heard them read twice before in the meeting; that he knew the conspiracy existed; that it was the intention of the negroes to kill all the people, take possession of the county and make Gen. Jack Turner ruler, but that he had nothing to do with it. He admitted that he had been carrying the call around and getting the negroes to join, and that when arrested, he was on his last round, and, that he was paid 50 cents a day for his services. He could not be whipped into telling where the books and other papers of the organization were kept. He denied all knowledge of their whereabouts; said that he knew they existed; did not know where negroes asked in the jail the night before if the white people had found the books and other papers; and that Jack Turner spoke up and said: “No they are not quite that d----d smart. After this admission and other conclusive proofs against him, it was unanimously agreed among the whites that “Gen. Jack Turner ought to swing.” So, accordingly, he was taken from the jail, and between the hours of 12 and 1 o’clock in the broad open light of the day he was HANGED TO THE LIMB OF A TREE on the main street of the town. There was a strong intimation manifested on the part of the people to hang the other six, but older and cooler counsel prevailed, and they were spared. It is said the people were quiet and cool as people well could be under the circumstances, and that the execution of Turner was as deliberate as if done under the forms of law. All is quiet now, and no further trouble is likely to occur. The Murder Trial in Virginia ---------------------------- LUNENBERG C. H., VA., August 23.—The trial of R. B. Garland for the murder of Joseph Addison was resumed this morning. After court had been called to order, Charles P. Finch, of Mecklenburg county, opened for the defense. He began by saying that Mr. Taylor, of Baltimore, and Judge Drury A. Hinton, of Petersburg, had been employed by the Addison family as private prosecutors. The Speaker wanted to know as this case might possibly go to the Supreme Court of Appeals, what right Judge Hinton had to come here, to prosecute this prisoner, for the gold of his family, for blood-money. In this connection, Mr. Finch said that Judge Hinton, and Mr. Taylor, had the right to put their legal talents up to the highest bidder for blood money, but this was the first time in the history of Virginia, that a member of the Court of Appeals of the State, had ever been found, trailing its white ermine for blood money. His (Mr. Finch’s) talents could not be bought for blood-money. Mr. French read Miss Hatchett’s letter to Garland, and he said, the prisoner had acted only as he should have done. Lunenburg county retains only its honor; the war had striped it of all else. The father of the prisoner was unable to employ counsel for his poor boy, but the wealthy Addison family could employ a Baltimore lawyer, and a member of the Court of Appeals of Virginia, to prosecute Garland for an act which did him honor. Looking toward Judge Hinton, the speaker asked, if he (Judge Hinton) would have rested under such an insult as that offered Garland by Addison, without demanding retraction. Mr. Finch, referred to Addison’s remark after being shot: “I am done for.” and Garland’s reply, “I am sorry for it, but you brought it all on yourself,” and called attention to the fact that Addison did not deny this statement. After reading and commenting on the Court’s instructions to the jury, Mr. Finch concluded his arguments at 2 o’clock. At times during Mr. Finch’s speech, the father and brother of the prisoner wept freely, though he himself was not apparently moved by the pathetic words of his counsel. At the conclusion of Mr. Finch’s argument the court took a recess, and the prisoner left the court room for the jail, in charge of the sheriff, smoking a cigar, and carrying in his hand a button-hole bouquet. EX-GOVERNOR Sprague, of Rhode Island, is acting like a crazy man in endeavoring to prevent the purchaser of Canonchet from taking possession of the property. What a difference between the rich Senator of fifteen years ago and the present physical and intellectual wreck. An exceedingly bitter contest is going on in the Ashland district of Kentucky in the Congressional race between Hon. Joe. Blackburn and Mr. Owens, a young politician of some ability and local reputation. The Philadelphia Times is sending circulars to every candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania, asking for replies to the following queries: “First—If elected to Congress, will you faithfully labor and vote for the entire abolition of the internal revenue tax system, except a tax on spirits and tobacco? “Second—Will you faithfully labor and vote for the abolition of the internal revenue offices, which now tax the people over $5,000,000 a year. “Third—Will you faithfully labor and vote to restore the Government expenses to the strictest economy, and thus relieve the people of the present unexampled expenditures? “Fourth—Will you faithfully labor and vote to make future party assessment robbery impossible, under any and every guise or form, and thus give effect to the plain spirit, if not the letter, of existing laws? LEGAL NOTICES Administrator’s Notice ---------------------- Estate of Isabella E. Otey and Mary E. Parker, Deceased LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION on the Estates of said decedents having been granted to the undersigned on the 26th day of August, A. D. 1882, by the Hon. William Richardson, Judge of the Probate Court of Madison County notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time required by law, or that the same will be barred. B. H. J. NOWLIN Administrator of the Estate of Isabella E. Otey and of the Estate of Mary E. Parker, deceased. WILLIAM RICHARDSON Judge Sheriff’s Sale To satisfy an execution in my hands from the Circuit Court of Madison County and State of Alabama, in favor of Joshua H. Beadle, Plaintiff, against Rebecca Pride, Defendant, I will offer for sale at Public Auction, to the highest bidder, for Cash, at the Court House door in the City of Huntsville, Alabama, on the First Monday in October, 1882, the following described Real Estate, to-wit: “The Southwest ¼ of Section 32, in Township 3, Range 2 west; Also 20 acres on the north side of the Northwest (1/4) quarter of Section 5, of Township 4, Range 2 West of the Basis Meridian of the lands sold in Huntsville, Alabama; Also six (6) acres in the Southwest corner of the North (1/2) in the Southeast (1/4) of Section 32 , Township 3, Range 2 West, of the Basis Meridian, beginning at said Southwest corner, running North (35) thirty five poles ; thence East (27) poles, and (13) thirteen feet; thence South (35) thirty five poles; thence West (27) poles, and (13 thirteen feet, to the beginning containing (200) Two Hundred Acres more or less. Levies on as the property of the said Rebecca Pride and will be sold to satisfy said execution and costs. JOHN W. COOPER Sheriff Madison County Aug30.1882-30d Pr’s fee $15 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/madison/newspapers/itemsfro1237gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 22.7 Kb